Maps of Music

Letters Never Sent (1994)

Where the lyrics of Letters Never Sent take you, and where it was really made.

The album grew out of a box of letters Carly Simon had written but never mailed, and two of its songs were written for people who died of cancer in 1994.

Key places

Right Track Recording, New York City (1994)

Recording site MSR Studios — Right Track Recording is listed as a place where the album was recorded. The point marks the city-level listing for the studio in New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sound on Sound Recording Studios, New York City (1994)

Recording site The Record Plant — Sound on Sound Recording Studios is listed as a place where the album was recorded in New York City. It is one of the studios named for the release. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Hit Factory, New York City (1994)

Recording site The Hit Factory — The Hit Factory is listed as a place where the album was recorded in New York City. The point is one of several studios named for this release. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cadiloon Sound, Pawling, New York (1994)

Recording site Cadiloon Sound — Cadiloon Sound is listed as a recording location in Pawling, New York. The point is placed at the town center, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Letters Never Sent is the 16th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon
• Released by Arista Records on November 1, 1994
• Simon has said the inspiration came when she found an old box of letters she had written but never mailed
• The album is built around those unsent letters, which Simon turned into songs
• "Like a River" was written in honor of her mother, Andrea Simon
• "Touched by the Sun" was written for her dear friend Jackie Onassis
• Andrea Simon and Jackie Onassis both died of cancer in 1994

Background

• The album came out in the same year that Simon lost her mother and her close friend
• Backing vocals are by Marc Cohn and Simon's son Ben Taylor
• Ben Taylor also sings on "Time Works on All the Wild Young Men", the bridge song between the fourth and sixth tracks
• The release date is set by the album's own page and falls in late 1994

Recording

• Andreas Vollenweider plays the harp on the track "Davy"
• Recording locations listed for the album include Right Track Recording, Sound on Sound Recording Studios and The Hit Factory, all in New York City
• Cadiloon Sound in Pawling, New York, is also listed as a recording location
• Several studios are listed, so the album was not made in a single room

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born June 25, 1943 in New York City; American singer-songwriter and author.
• In 1963 began performing as the Simon Sisters with sister Lucy Simon; released Meet the Simon Sisters, which produced the minor hit "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod".
• Signed to Elektra Records in 1970 and went solo.

Career

• Debut album (1971) won the Grammy for Best New Artist; "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" was her first top 10 single.
• No Secrets (1972) topped the Billboard 200 for five weeks; "You're So Vain" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Recorded "Nobody Does It Better" for the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
• Won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy for "Let the River Run" from Working Girl (1988).
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Billboard reviewed "Like A River" and called it an intelligent and melodically complex tune about death and change
• Billboard said Simon had not offered a song as moving as this in years and expected it to suit AC radio
• Cashbox wrote that the album had the potential to be Simon's most intriguing in years
• Cashbox wished Simon had cut back on the arrangements a little, given how personal the project is
• Entertainment Weekly graded the album B+ and praised the unsent letters set to music as funky, fascinating and sumptuous
• Entertainment Weekly called the move daring and said it paid off
• AllMusic wrote that the album represents a fresh start and that Simon returned to passion as her main subject
• AllMusic called it an unusually coquettish performance for a woman of 49, and practically weightless

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Simon made music videos for "Like a River" and "Touched by the Sun"
• She performed "Touched by the Sun" on the Late Show with David Letterman on two occasions
• Simon embarked on a co-headlining tour with Hall & Oates in support of the album
• The 1995 concert special Live at Grand Central was performed in the middle of New York City's Grand Central Terminal and was a prelude to Simon's first concert tour in 14 years
• For that special Simon was nominated for two CableACE Awards and won Best Original Song for "Touched by the Sun"

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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